Insulation question

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Author Message   themp Citizen Username: Themp Post Number: 189 Registered: 12-2001 Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2003 - 5:28 pm:        I found a contractor to rehab the second floor of my house. They started tearing out the plaster ceiling, and they also tore out the plaster walls down to the lath. This was unexpected. I think it was a miscommunication. I wanted them to put new sheetrock over the existing plaster on the walls, but what's done is done. My questions are as follows: How much sound/thermal insulation did I lose when the plaster came out? One friend, an architect ,says not too much thermally because plaster doesn't have much air space and the wall cavity does most of the insulating. He says the lath provides some wall mass and sound insulation, so it's good that it is still there. He says forget it and move on. another friend who is also an architect says I should either have insulation blown in behind the lath, or have the lath torn out and have fiberglass insulation rolled in. These are mostly exterior walls on the second floor. Can insulation be blown in behind lath? Would it pour back through? Should I tear out the lath? Should I just sheetrock without insulation and forget about the whole thing? I've heard good windows are much more important than insulation. Sign me, confused   jgberkeley Supporter Username: Jgberkeley Post Number: 3188 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2003 - 6:29 pm:        Have open cell foam sprayed in. Non toxic, sprays in like water, flashes and expands filling the void. Great stuff, you can leave the lath in place and yes you need insulation in those outside walls.   themp Citizen Username: Themp Post Number: 190 Registered: 12-2001 Posted on Sunday, October 12, 2003 - 7:14 pm:        Thanks. Any insulation contractor names?